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Greta Smith signed LGBTQ open letter to our fellow Tennesseans 2016-12-23 06:54:43 -0600Greta Smith
LGBTQ open letter to our fellow Tennesseans
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An open letter from Tennessee's LGBTQ community to our fellow Tennesseans
As members of the LGBTQ community, we write to our fellow Tennesseans a month after the election and a month before the upcoming state legislative session.
In recent weeks members of our community have experienced grave assaults on our safety and dignity. A gay, gender nonconforming man was murdered. A transgender woman’s car was burned. The signs and doors of a church that affirms our community have been vandalized. A gay couple received a package with a knife sticking out and a message attached urging them to leave the state.
These attacks upon individuals and institutions have put our lives and safety at even greater risk than usual. They contravene the welcoming traditions of hospitality for which Tennessee is known.
The time we have entered is critical. Many are calling for healing in the wake of a divisive election. Healing is difficult while fresh wounds are being inflicted such as discriminatory state legislation.
So we are speaking out for our safety, dignity, and equal rights under the law.
Our struggle is not against your values, unless you value discrimination. LGBTQ Tennesseans are your neighbors, your family members, your health care providers, firefighters, grocery clerks, teachers, elected officials, and we fill many other roles vital to the life of small towns and large cities. Many of us grew up and continue to be active in the same faith communities as you.
In the long story of our community’s struggles, we have relied on our own strength to sustain us. We have also experienced the joy of working with countless allies. Now is a time for allies to speak out with us and we invite people of good will throughout the state to build a stronger, inclusive, welcoming Tennessee to meet our state’s common challenges together.
If you share these values and priorities, we invite you to add your name to this letter.
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Outworking Discrimination
The forces of discrimination aren't just hanging on; they're actually working harder after marriage equality was won in all 50 states. New attacks on transgender people, efforts to give counselors the ability to turn away LGBT people, increasingly hateful rhetoric from the religious Right, and more are just a few of the challenges.
We can win by OUTWORKING DISCRIMINATION! When you make a tax deductible contribution to this TEP Foundation campaign, we can invest in new, innovative efforts to engage the faith community including those in socially conservative denominations. We can develop a business network in Tennessee that can be a counterbalancing voice when attacks come. We can do more to shape a media message for equality.
YOU make it possible. Put us to work.
Donate
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Counseling Unconditionally
The map shown above represents mental health providers in Tennessee who provide affirmative services, especially in regards to sexual orientation and gender identity/expression. Please click on the top right of the map to make it larger so you can search your address/location to find counselors close to you and more information about them (e.g., website, e-mail address, insurance options, etc.).
The "Counseling Discrimination Law" (formerly HB1840) passed in 2016 highlights the need for counselors, therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, and other mental health providers to speak out for inclusive and affirmative practices. We urge any mental health provider to endorse the statement at the bottom of the page.
As counselors, therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, and social workers serving clients in Tennessee, we affirm that we do not discriminate based on sexual orientation or gender identity and we will not use our own sincerely held principles as a reason to turn clients away.
Note: The Tennessee Equality Project and the Tennessee Equality Project Foundation reserve the right to refuse membership to any provider or revoke a provider's listing.
If you have questions, comments, or concerns, please reach out to [email protected].
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